No, the last three times the Sox picked in the 1st round, it was the high risk/high reward type; Mitchell, Sale, and Hawkins... Problem with those guys is that they're high risk. That only 4 years into this new draft strategy 1 has already worked out to be arguably among the best players in baseball is an outstanding track record, when you think about it.

Agreed, Sale has produced more than almost every pick of the past 12 years. You have to go back to 2004 to find a player (Gio) that has had that much impact in MLB. When you look back at past #1 picks of this century (including sandwich)....

This is Hahn's first Draft in charge and will show his imprint, but the marching orders haven't changed for taking a player with impact. That player could be a high-school middle infielder or college pitcher. But Laumann believes the team can get someone with a high upside and someone who is signable as well.

"We might have one guy and I'd rather not comment on any specifics, one guy we deem to be a superior talent that for more than just signability reasons might slide a little bit," Laumann said. "We are going to have to play that game, if the percentages of taking that risk to get him signed outweigh getting the guy we want. We are going to get a guy we want and can sign and address things we need to get done."

But Laumann believes the team can get someone with a high upside and someone who is signable as well.

"We might have one guy and I'd rather not comment on any specifics, one guy we deem to be a superior talent that for more than just signability reasons might slide a little bit," Laumann said. "We are going to have to play that game, if the percentages of taking that risk to get him signed outweigh getting the guy we want. We are going to get a guy we want and can sign and address things we need to get done."

"Signability", I'm so tired of that expression. With the new rules, almost all players taken in the first round should be "signable".

Signability is in the eye of the beholder though isn't it? What a player an agent or for that matter the rest of MLB says is signable may not fit into the White Sox definition of signable.

Remember they've spent the least amount of money signing minor league talent over the past five years than anyone in MLB.

Lip

Well, the new rules are there to level the playing field. If a player thinks they can wait a year and be drafted higher in 2014 (like Mark Appel last year), they have that right. But there should be no more reaches and head scratchers in the first few rounds. Take the best player and give them what MLB dictates as "slot money".

As long as players and agents can no longer hold teams hostage with absurd, out of line demands, then 99.9% of players should be signable.

Chris Anderson, who Law has been projecting, would be a solid get in my opinion. They need to build up his endurance, but man his slider can be devastating. He also has a decent change up. If they can get that arm ready for 190-200 IP while sitting in the 90s on the fastball, kid is going to be solid.

Chris Anderson, who Law has been projecting, would be a solid get in my opinion. They need to build up his endurance, but man his slider can be devastating. He also has a decent change up. If they can get that arm ready for 190-200 IP while sitting in the 90s on the fastball, kid is going to be solid.

Agreed, he is the one pitcher in our draft pick "range" that has me most interested.

I hope we at least take a look at Tim Anderson and not get scared by the fact that he might go to college. Kids the only decent SS prospect in the draft and has a real shot. Plus, we're absolutely barren there in our system (I know, pretty much everywhere else too).

I hope we at least take a look at Tim Anderson and not get scared by the fact that he might go to college. Kids the only decent SS prospect in the draft and has a real shot. Plus, we're absolutely barren there in our system (I know, pretty much everywhere else too).

I like him too. Well, as much as I can like a h.s. kid with limited video. Some guy from Baseball America was on the Score and Anderson's name came up. They seem to think the Sox are dialed in on a college pitcher, but who knows?

I'm really surprised on Appel going to Houston, hope they can sign him. The Astros did sign two of Boras' players last year.

Also the Cubs not picking Gray is a bit odd, as they have little SP depth in their system.

Theo has a belief that all-star hitters come from the top rounds, where all-star pitchers develop more from later rounds...... its pretty proven and I think its a decent philosphy. Hard to not like the Bryant pick, of everyone, he has the best chance to be something special in the draft.